Phrasal Verbs/H
Phrasal verbs beginning with H. Select a phrasal verb for more details.hammer out
to reach an agreement or solution after a lot of negotiation or discussion
hand around
If you hand around things like drinks or cakes, you give one to each person in a group.
hand back
to give something back to someone by hand
hand down
to pass knowledge or skills from one generation to the next
hand in
If you hand something in, you give it to someone in authority, like a teacher, a policeman or a security guard.
hand on
If you hand something on, you pass it to somebody else.
hand out
to give something directly to a number of people
hand over
If you hand something over, you give it to someone who has demanded it.
hang around INFORMAL
to spend time somewhere without doing anything useful
hang on (1)
If you hang on to something, you hold it tightly.
hang on (2) INFORMAL
If someone tells you to hang on, they want you to wait for a moment.
hang onto INFORMAL
If you hang onto something, you keep it instead of throwing it away, giving it away, or selling it.
hang out (1)
to hang wet clothes outside to dry
hang out (2) INFORMAL
to spend time in a certain place, or with certain people
hang over
If you feel that you are facing a threat or a danger, we can say the threat or the danger hangs over you.
hang up
If you hang up a piece of clothing or a towel, you hang it on a hook, a rail, a hanger, etc.
hang with INFORMAL
to spend time with
happen to
If something happens to you, an event or an occurrence affects you directly.
have against
If you have something against someone, you don't like them because of something they've said or done in the past.
have on (1)
If you have something on, you are wearing it.
have on (2)
If you have something on at a certain time, you've arranged to do something at that time.
have out
If you have something out, like a tooth or an organ, it's removed from your body.
have round
If you have people round, they visit your home, usually for a meal or for a social gathering.
head for
to go in a certain direction or towards a particular place or situation
head off (1) INFORMAL
to leave a place
head off (2)
to stop something bad from happening
head up
to act as the head of a group or team, or to manage an organization
hear about
If you hear about something, someone tells you about it or you find out about it from an information source like the news media.
hear from
If you hear from someone, they call you, email you or contact you in some other way.
hear of
If you've heard of someone, you know who they are and what they do.
hear out
If you hear somebody out, you listen to them until they've finished what they are saying.
heat up (1)
If you heat something up, you make it hotter.
heat up (2)
If something like a discussion, a contest or a conflict heats up, it gets more intense, more exciting or more dangerous.
help out
If you help someone out, you do something to help them.
hem in
to restrict someone's movement, or to limit someone's freedom
hide away
If you hide away, you go to a place where very few people can find you.
hit back
If someone is beating or attacking you and you hit back, you fight to defend yourself.
hit on
to have a idea or to think of something
hold against
to dislike somebody, or be angry with them, because you blame them for something bad that happened in the past
hold back
to stop someone or something from going forward, or from progressing in some way
hold down
to stop something from rising by pressing down on it or putting a heavy object on it
hold forth FORMAL
to talk about a topic for a long time, often in a way that other people find boring
hold off
to delay doing something until a later time
hold on (1)
to hold something like a railing or an overhead strap so you don't fall over
hold on (2)
to wait for a short time
hold out (1)
If you hold something out, you hold it where other people can reach it.
hold out (2)
If a supply of something holds out, it continues to be enough and it doesn't run out.
hold out for
to wait until you get what you want, especially when negotiating
hold out on
to refuse to give information to someone
hold to
to make someone do what they promised or agreed to do
hold up (1)
to cause a delay, or make someone or something later than expected
hold up (2)
to support something and stop it from falling down
hold up (3)
to steal from someone while threatening them with a gun or a similar weapon
hook up (1)
If you hook up things like computers and their peripherals, or the components of a home theatre, you connect them with cables.
hook up (2) INFORMAL
to meet with someone and join with them in work, travel or leisure activities
hunt down
If you hunt down someone, you try to find them and capture or kill them.
hurry up
If you hurry up, you try to do something faster.
hush up
to try to keep something secret, especially something that could damage the reputation of a person or an organization